Image: Secret Invasion, Disney+
Each quarter we like to look back on the new shows that managed to break through with audiences by comparing the demand for newly released shows in their first 30 days. This has historically put binge and weekly release shows on fairly equal footing for a side by side comparison. Looking at the most in-demand new series premieres of last quarter, two clear winners stand out - one is a show and the other is a platform.
The most in-demand new show to premiere in the US last quarter was Secret Invasion, which had 42.1 times the average series demand in its first 30 days. This is probably not surprising given how successful new Marvel series on Disney+ have been in the past at attracting audience attention and galvanizing the Marvel fanbase. However Secret Invasion is the first Marvel series to premiere on Disney+ since She-Hulk: Attorney at Law last August and the long gap seems to have boosted demand for the show from audiences who may have previously been suffering from franchise fatigue after the non-stop rollout of the Marvel Phase Four shows.
Although the show has received mixed reviews, audiences seem more than eager to flock back to the franchise after the recent dry spell. The initial spikes in demand in the first weeks after Secret Invasion premiered were higher than for any other Marvel series that premiered on Disney+. This could be a good sign for a more fiscally prudent Disney that less is more, or at least that more time between new shows can actually help series cut through the deluge of content.
Netflix’s Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story ranked as the second most successful premiere of the quarter, with 25.2 times the average series demand in its first month. It was a tight race though - shows ranked second through tenth ranged from 21x to 26x demand. In this competitive field, Apple TV+ stands out for having a successful quarter.
Three of the ten most in-demand new series premieres were Apple TV+ originals. Hijack, Silo, and The Crowded Room all had more than 20 times the average series demand in their first 30 days. Apple TV+ has continued to produce high-demand original content. While the closet thing they have to a hit on the scale of a Marvel series is Ted Lasso, the consistent pace and quality of their output has grown the share of demand for the platform’s originals over time compared to competitors.
